Game apparatus



No. 607,020. Patented luly l2, I898.

W. W. DODGE.

GAME APPARATUS.

(Application filed Nov. 19. 1897.)

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apparatus embodying my invention.

NITED STATES Fries.

GAM E APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 607,020, dated July 12, 1898. Application filed November-19, 1897. Serial No.659,l05. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM W. DODGE, residing at Burlington, in the county of Des Moines and State of Iowa, have invented anew and useful Game Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in game apparatus; and the object thereof is to provide a simple and improved game apparatus by means of which an amusing game may be played and which is adapted for either in or out door use.

With the above object in View the invention consists of a board or table supported above the surface of the supporting object and having formed therein a plurality of openings of the same or different sizes, beneath which a pocket or pockets is arranged to receive a ball which is conducted thereto through the medium of an inclined plane.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my invention most nearly appertains to make and use the same, I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of a game Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, showing the ball in the act of ascending the incline. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view showing the ball upon the table. Fig. 4 is a top plan View. Fig. 5 is a detail View of one of the pockets.

Referring to the drawings, A indicates the board, which is preferably in the shape of a parallelogram, although it may be of any desired shape, and having the rail D secured aboutits rear and side edges, said rail also proj ecting below the under surface of the board. Hinged to the rail, beneath the board and at the sides thereof, by the hinges J, are the supporting-legs O, which support the board above the floor or ground and which when the board is not in use maybe folded inward upon the under side thereof. These legs are held in position for supporting the board by the hooks H, carried thereby, which engage staples in the outer side of the rail. A plurality of openings is formed in the board, arranged in the present instance in three parallel rows extending-"longitudinallyacrosstheboard. The openings N of the first row and K of the third row are in the present instance four in number and of the same size, while those of the middle row consist of three, the central one, M, being smaller than any of the other openings, and the side openingsL are of the same size, but larger than any of the other openings. I do not desire to limit myself to the number, size, or arrangement of these openings, as they may be varied at will without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Arranged on the under side of board A, be-

neath each opening, is a pocket E to receive openings in the board. Instead of providing a pocket beneath each opening it will be readily understood that a single pocket might be provided which would extend beneath all of the openings and receive the ball as it passes through any one of the former.

Hinged at one edge of the front edge of the board A is a board B, which may be arranged to fold either upon the upper or the under surface of board A, as may be desired. The opposite edge of this board is adapted to rest upon the ground or floor and form an inclined plane, which the ball ascends to reach the openings in board A, or it may be elevated to form a downwardly-inclined plane, which the ball may descend.

- The game is played by placing the apparatus upon the ground or floor,'with the inclined plane in position for the ball to ascend. The openings in the board are designated by numerals, and the object of the game is to roll the ball into the opening having the largest numeral, the player first reaching a predetermined amount winning the game. The players stand at a distance in front of the board and roll the ball along the ground or floor, so that it ascends the inclined plane and enters one of the pockets.

The game apparatus may be made of any desired size, for use either in or out doors, and various slight changes might be made in the construction and arrangement of the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and hence I do not care to limit myself to the exact arrangement herein specified, but consider myself entitled 011, means for securing the legs in position to all changes and variations therein which for supporting the board, and a board hinged come Within the limit and scope thereof. at one edge to said board and adapted to fold Having thus fully described my invention, thereon when not in use, said hinged board 5 What I claim as new, and desire to secure by forming an inclined plane leading to the I 5 Letters Patent of the United States, is-- pocket, substantially as described.

A game apparatus comprising a board hav- WILLIAM W. DODGE. ing an opening formed therein, a pocket ar- Witnesses: range'dbeneath said opening, supporting-legs P. J. FITZGERALD,

IO hinged to the board and adapted to fold there- GEO. B. LITTLE. 

